title
A resolution honoring the life of Station Inn owner J.T. Gray.
body
WHEREAS, Nashvillian J.T. Gray, a bluegrass singer, guitarist, and owner of The Station Inn located in the Gulch neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee, died on March 20, 2021 at the age of 75; and
WHEREAS, the son of a fiddle player and piano player, J.T. Gray was born in Corinth, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Gray moved to Nashville in 1971 to play bluegrass with the Misty Mountain Boys, and went on to play gigs with Vassar Clements, the Sullivan Family, Tom T. Hall, and Jimmy Martin’s Sunny Mountain Boys; and
WHEREAS, J.T. Gray bought The Station Inn in 1981, and, after driving a tour bus during the early years to keep the lights open, successfully made the venue Nashville’s unofficial bluegrass hub featuring the world’s best bluegrass, classic country, Americana, and roots music; and
WHEREAS, many well-known and emerging bluegrass artists got their start and cultivated their musical careers at The Station Inn including, among others, Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley, Old Crow Medicine Show, the SteelDrivers, Chris Stapleton, and Sturgill Simpson; and
WHEREAS, in 2005, J.T. Gray founded Station Inn Records, with its first release being his own album, “It’s About Time”, featuring some of Nashville’s top session players as backers on a collection of traditional country and bluegrass music; and
WHEREAS, in 2019, J.T. Gray helped the venue establish its innovative streaming platform, Station Inn TV, making it possible for people around the world to experience bluegrass and roots music from the comfort of their living room; and
WHEREAS, amid unprecedented circumstances in 2020, J.T. Gray and Station Inn TV kept the venue’s bluegrass tradition alive by affording the opportunity to showcase artists playing to an empty house through their livestreamed shows; and
WHEREAS, the bluegrass music industry honored J.T. Gray in 2020 by inducting him into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, J. T. Gray was featured this year in a newly launched Station Inn exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and recently appeared on the 63rd annual Grammy Awards to present Miranda Lambert with the Best Country Album award; and
WHEREAS, J.T. Gray will be sorely missed by many bluegrass music devotees, and the contributions he made to the industry will be felt for many years to come; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council honors the life and accomplishments of J.T. Gray.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as honoring the life of Station Inn owner J.T. Gray.
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.